Understanding Italian Art

Karyn Dest, Staff Writer

The Virgin Mary wears blue, right? And the Madonna - she's in red? And the writers of the four gospels of the Bible...they're represented by winged animals?

A trip to Italy means travelling to countless museums and Churches. Frescoes, paintings, and sculptures adorn the walls of those landmarks. But what do the many symbols mean?

To help you understand much of the meaning behind these great works, the following is a guide to recognizing some of the main religious symbols in Italian art.

The Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary is one of the most common figures in Italian Art. As the mother of Jesus Christ, in the Christian faith, she is considered one of the purest women in the Biblical tradition.

How to spot Mary? She is usually shown wrapped in a blue robe, symbolizing her fidelity to the Lord. Blue is traditionally a color that invokes a sense of loyalty and faithfulness so it is color which one will often see associated with Mary or other characters of faith.

Known as "Mater Amabilis," or "Mother Worthy of Love," she is often depicted gazing down at her son, Jesus. While she is the adoring mother, she is also the faithful servant to the boy that is man and God.

In the Virgin Enthroned With the Child and Saints in the Museo di San Marco, Dominican friar Fra Angelico depicts Mary sitting on a throne, fully dressed in a blue robe, holding Jesus with her left hand as the child gazes out upon well-wishers who have their heads lowered in humble worship to him. Like those who have come to praise her son, Mary's head is lowered toward Jesus, both in an adoring matter and in what appears to be a sort of worship as well. She has her right hand placed upon her heart, symbolizing the love she has for Jesus, who is at once her child and her Lord.

Another symbol sometimes associated with Mary is the lily. It is known as the flower of the Virgin Mary and is generally symbolic of purity, resurrection and peace.

The Four Evangelists

Important in Italian art are the so-called "Four Evangelists" -- St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John. Each of these men, in the Christian faith, were disciples of Jesus Christ and wrote books of the Bible in which they professed the glory of Christ. The Bible bears four books named in honor of them - the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Each of the evangelists is represented by creatures with wings, clutching Bibles. This is likely because they spread the word of Christ in their writings and carried the word all over the world faster than only by word of mouth, just as winged animals can travel more quickly than man by foot. The winged nature of their symbolic characters also can be traced to the meaning of their mission of spreading the word about Christ, which in the Christian faith is often viewed as divine.

St. Matthew is usually depicted as a winged man, representing the idea of man spreading the gospel of Christ. A winged lion is symbolic of the spiritual strength of St. Mark. The unwavering faith and steadfast nature of St. Luke's commitment to Christ is symbolized in a winged ox, while St. John's faith is characterized by that of a winged eagle, flying around the world to deliver Christ's message to the masses.

Other Symbols of Importance

Even if you think you're not visiting a museum, the Churches and other historical landmarks in Italy often contain great works of art. Besides the Virgin Mary and the Four Evangelists, there are many other symbols you might see when viewing art that has often lasted for more than five or six hundred years.

A lamb in a fresco or painting is often symbolic of Jesus Christ, who is known as the Lamb of God.

Skulls also have great symbolic value. The skull is often a reminder of death and mortality. In Italian, the skull is referred to as a "memento mori."

Finally, the palm is also a common symbol in Italian art. It generally represents a martyr's triumph over death.

If you plan on studying art in great detail when you visit Italy, you should familiarize yourself with some Biblical characters - especially New Testament figures like Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Evangelists - as this will help you get the most from the paintings and frescoes you view.